Dortmund may be figuring things out. Feel behind in the first minute while hosting Mainz, then dominated the first half but still down 1-0 at the half. Scored two quickly in the second and almost immediately gave up an equalizer. Still managed to put two more home.

That was the type of match where they have given away points all season but they now have seven fields in two games.

I do want to see them relegated but if they had to pick things up doing so just before UCL returns is the best way to do it.

What could have been a big weekend eventually led to no movement in the race for the Champions/Europa spots during Matchday 22

-#3 Gladbach converted on a corner in the final seconds for a 1-1 draw at Hamburger

-#4 Schalke and #8 Werder Bremen drew 1-1. It broke Werder Bremen's five match winning streak, but they still have sixteen points in six matches after sitting at the bottom of the table after Matchday 16 when they had earned only fourteen points

-#5 Augsburg and #6 Leverkusen also drew 1-1 and remained in the two Europa slots

-#7 Hoffenheim turned out to be the losers of the weekend. They also earned a point, but it came against #16 Freiburg. Really blew a chance to make up some ground on the competition.

Gladbach remains third, only one point ahead of both Schalke and Augsburg. Leverkusen remains two points behind Schalke for a Champions slot but only three points clear of Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen for the final Europa slot.

Meanwhile, Dortmund continued their winning ways, taking their third consecutive victory. It was 3-2 against dead last Stuttgart and one of the others came against #16 Freiburg so it is not as if they are beating world beaters but they do have some breathing room over the relegation slots now and have won three straight ahead of their UCL match-up this week. Dortmund is now tied for eleventh, although they remain eight points away from even an Europa slot.